How long have you been living in your current home? If you’ve been staying in your space for quite some time now, we’re sure you’ve thought about giving it a makeover or maybe moving things around just to make it look and feel brand new again. Imagine if you’ve been living in the same condo unit for 10 years—the desire to renovate is surely stronger than ever. Take for example the owner of this 45sqm, one-bedroom unit in Mandaluyong—she finally decided to renovate the space after she realized how dark and cramped it has become. “The owner approached our design team to refresh the interiors. She requested for a brighter, more maaliwalas look that’s low-maintenance and [complete] with efficient storage solutions,” shares interior designer Liel Gardon of Espasyo Manila.

Given the owner’s budget, Liel and the design team had to retain some features and existing pieces to save on costs. Knowing that renovations are more challenging than working on a fit-out, the team took into consideration what the owner needs and how they can improve each area. “When renovating a small space, [it’s important] to know your priorities and where you can spend and save. We made use of design solutions that are practical and cost-efficient while still achieving the design objective,” adds Liel. Since the owner has a lot of belongings, adding enough storage has become one of the project’s major goals. After the renovation period, the unit now sports a bright living area, a cozy dining area, and a snug bedroom. Now who says this unit is already 10 years old?